NEWS

On Thursday, September 25th, Borough President James Oddo announced that he has allocated $380,000 in capital funding to the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office. The money will fund an overhaul of the videotaping system which produces footage for Grand Jury proceedings, trials and for use in their control room, line-up room, and witness room, as well as their media and conference center into a video recording system. The new system will replace the old system, last updated in 2005, which has fallen behind current industry standards.

“One of the first people I met with after becoming Borough President was District Attorney Dan Donovan,” said Borough President Oddo. “I wanted him to know that we at Borough Hall were committed to doing everything we could to assist him in his critical role as chief law enforcement officer on Staten Island, including help with capital dollars. Technology has come a long way in a few short years and it’s imperative that the District Attorney’s Office utilize an up-to-date system.”

The project will digitize the recording process, making high quality imaging available during necessary proceedings. Cameras and audio equipment will be replaced in the line-up room, the witness room and the media and conference center. In addition, the control room will get a total overhaul of equipment, which will improve the image quality and sound, converting the analog-based video-taping system into a server-based HD video-recording system.

In addition, an archive system will make it much more time efficient for prosecutors to locate footage needed for their cases. The new system will allow the DA’s office to export victim/witness/defendant videos directly onto ADA’s computers and create a more secure method of storing interviews.

“This much-needed upgrade will bring the outdated technology in my office into the next century. Interviewing victims, witnesses and defendants is the foundation on which strong cases are built,” said Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. “I want to thank Borough President Oddo for this capital funding, which will allow my office to better serve the people of Staten Island.”

Borough President James S. Oddo and Council Member Vincent Ignizio announced Sept. 18 that capital improvement projects to the intersection of Page Avenue and Amboy Road, and Richmond Valley Road between Page Avenue and Arthur Kill Road are now fully funded.

Both projects will be done in partnership with the adjoining property owners at the locations.

The improvements include widening Page Avenue (eastbound), new dedicated right turn lanes and attendant signaling and more. The project is scheduled to begin after the completion of a major sewer project in the area has been completed.

“This is a great day for Tottenville,” Council member Ignizio said at a press conference held at the corner of Page Avenue and Amboy Road. He noted that the business corridor of Page Avenue has grown significantly in the last 20 years and this project will cure many of the issues the area has. “There is no silver bullet. There are short term, mid term and long term solutions at work,” he said, noting that the intersection recently got a right hand turn lane.

“We’re injecting sanity into these intersections,” said Borough President Oddo, noting that Staten Island suffers from a lack of infrastructure. “We’re grateful to the community partners who are making these changes possible.” BP Oddo allocated $4.229 million this year, which represented the remainder of the funding needed to begin the project. Former BP Jim Molinaro previously allocated $1.25 million for this project.

Borough President James Oddo has announced that he has allocated a total of $3,625,000 in capital funding to make much needed improvements in more than twenty-five Staten Island schools.

“This funding represents an investment by the taxpayers in the kids of Staten Island,” said Borough President Oddo. “This funding means that important and necessary projects and improvements will be made to local schools. From security measures, to laptops and smartboards, to new laboratories and auditoriums, to fields and fitness centers, these upgrades are essential for educating children in the safest, most supportive and challenging environment possible.”

According to “Understanding New York City’s Budget: A Guide,” published by the New York City Independent Budget Office (IBO), “The Capital Budget is a separate budget covering one fiscal year, funding physical infrastructure used either in support of government operations (such as government offices, schools, and fire stations) or for general public use (such as roads, bridges, libraries, and parks). Almost all state and local governments in the United States maintain a capital budget or plan distinct from their Expense Budget. To be included in the Capital Budget, individual projects must have a value of at least $35,000 and a period of probable usefulness of at least five years.”

Borough President Oddo makes his funding decisions in consultation with the principals of schools, who identify their schools’ most pressing needs.